Australia Inflation Calculator
Inflation since 1986 and its effect on dollar value
The consumer price index (CPI) in 1986 was 42.8. It was 39.2 in the previous year. This change in CPI is used by the Bureau of Statistics to calculate inflation.
According to the Bureau of Statistics consumer price index, the dollar experienced an average inflation rate of 3.04% per year. Prices in 2018 are 160.98% higher than prices in 1986.
In other words, AU$100 in 1986 is equivalent in purchasing power to AU$260.98 in 2018, a difference of AU$160.98 over 32 years.
The current inflation rate is now 0.45%1. If this number holds, AU$100 today will be equivalent to AU$100.45 next year.
| Cumulative price change | 160.98% |
| Average inflation rate | 3.04% |
| Converted amount (AU$100 base) | AU$260.98 |
| Price difference (AU$100 base) | AU$160.98 |
| CPI in 1986 | 42.8 |
| CPI in 2018 | 111.7 |
How to calculate the inflation rate for AU$100 since 1986
This inflation calculator uses the following inflation rate formula:
CPI in 2018 / CPI in 1986 * 1986 AUD value = 2018 AUD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The Australian CPI was 42.8 in the year 1986 and 111.7 in 2018:
111.7 / 42.8 * AU$100 = AU$260.98
AU$100 in 1986 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as AU$260.98 in 2018.
Buying power of AU$100 since 1986
This chart shows calculations of buying power equivalence over time for AU$100 in 1986 (price index tracking began in 1922).
According to the Bureau of Statistics, each of these AUD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | AUD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | AU$100.00 | 9.18% |
| 1987 | AU$108.41 | 8.41% |
| 1988 | AU$116.36 | 7.33% |
| 1989 | AU$125.00 | 7.43% |
| 1990 | AU$134.35 | 7.48% |
| 1991 | AU$138.55 | 3.13% |
| 1992 | AU$139.95 | 1.01% |
| 1993 | AU$142.29 | 1.67% |
| 1994 | AU$145.09 | 1.97% |
| 1995 | AU$151.87 | 4.67% |
| 1996 | AU$155.84 | 2.62% |
| 1997 | AU$156.31 | 0.30% |
| 1998 | AU$157.48 | 0.75% |
| 1999 | AU$159.81 | 1.48% |
| 2000 | AU$167.06 | 4.53% |
| 2001 | AU$174.30 | 4.34% |
| 2002 | AU$179.67 | 3.08% |
| 2003 | AU$184.58 | 2.73% |
| 2004 | AU$188.79 | 2.28% |
| 2005 | AU$193.93 | 2.72% |
| 2006 | AU$200.70 | 3.49% |
| 2007 | AU$205.37 | 2.33% |
| 2008 | AU$214.49 | 4.44% |
| 2009 | AU$218.22 | 1.74% |
| 2010 | AU$224.53 | 2.89% |
| 2011 | AU$232.01 | 3.33% |
| 2012 | AU$235.98 | 1.71% |
| 2013 | AU$241.82 | 2.48% |
| 2014 | AU$247.90 | 2.51% |
| 2015 | AU$251.64 | 1.51% |
| 2016 | AU$254.91 | 1.30% |
| 2017 | AU$259.81 | 1.92% |
| 2018 | AU$260.98 | 0.45%* |
News headlines from 1986
Politics and news often influence economic performance. Here's what was happening at the time:
- Ferdinand Marcos becomes president of the Philippines after rigged elections.
- 6.5 million People hold hands across the US in an event referred to as Hands Across America.
- Doctors announce that the drug AZT will be available to AIDS patients.
- Talks between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev begin at the Reykjavik summit.
- Mrs. Davina Thompson receives the first heart, lung and liver transplant in Cambridge, England.
Data Source & Citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the government of Australia's annual (CPI) as provided by the Reserve Bank of Australia. The consumer price index was established in 1922 and is tracked by Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “Inflation Rate in 1986 | Australia Inflation Calculator.” U.S. Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 23 Jul. 2018, https://www.officialdata.org/Australia-inflation-rate-in-1986.
in2013dollars.com is a reference website maintained by the Official Data Foundation.